Sandra wrote: ” we have to watch out for those holes!” My questions: Is this blog a great example of these holes, and are further elaborations on this blog only making this whole bigger and more comfortable for those who dug it?

TC (7:16): “you can still say this action is not suitable and it is not appropriate but you don’t get angry and upset”. Can you? Is this enlightened view? Seeing the fact that the natural state (i.e. enlightenment) is beyond words and concepts. So it is clearly “relative enlightenment” that is being taught here by TC. (i.e. a contradiction in terms). Relative bodhicitta. Food for dummies…

You can still say this action is not suitable and is not appropriate, but -by defintion of the words “suitable” and “appropriate- this implies it is relative to some (be it a mojority). So the “not suitable” and “not appropriate” is NOT some inherent quality of the action (hitting a student in the stomach), nor the actor, but arises in dependence on the acted upon. So you can still say it, but it is ultimately groundless, so why utter it? It is only digging the whole (of dualistic habituation) deeper. Only dummies do that…

It is not about visualising yourself as the deity and acting from that perspective that is the core of practice, it is about the DISSOLTION of the deity (into emptiness). Right conduct is maintaining in thát openminded state during all of your actions. Visualisation of yourself as the deity and acting from thát perspective is for dummies.

And it is not about negating ones emotions by not getting “angry and upset”, it is about seeing ones emotions as they really are. Seeing their nature. But this necessarily implies that you actually EXPERIENCE these emotions. Isn’t it? Negating ones emotions is also for dummies. What TC is teaching is for dummies

Indeed, this post is intended to make you upset. Maybe even angry 😉 As upset as a mahasiddhas! As upset as yogis!

I’m glad you found it helpful, Kathy. Wishing you well.

“…the tragedy is when people don’t learn other ways to see situations… in a more beneficial way. … their usual, ordinary mind takes over and the result is just, you know, criticism, rubbish, gossip, and then, you know, they leave the practice, which is harmful to them.

Student: Just to be clear about the pure view, it’s seeing situations as a result of your own karma, it’s not seeing others necessarily as buddhas and excusing any bad behavior that you see?

TC: Yeah, that’s not the standard definition of pure view but that’s, definitely, if you’re practicing seeing yourself as the Buddha, [it’s] some attitude, some outlook, some perspective, that you should have. Even in the Bodhisattva path, even in the fundamental vehicle path, you know, what happens to me as a result of my karma, there’s no sense in getting mad at other people, because if i hadn’t created that in the past then i wouldn’t be experiencing this now. It doesn’t mean what the other person is doing is right, it means you’re taking responsibility for your part in it. When ever we blame, then we dig ourselves into a hole, [as if one says] “I can’t release my anger until they apologize.” You dig yourself into a hole, decorate the hole and then complain that you’re in it.”

True, Thelma. I know it helps me to be reminded of these things again and again.

Thank you, Stephen. I agree. I only learned of the first two-talks later. I’ve also watched them and found them to be excellent. I’ll feature them in an upcoming blog post.

Hello Sel, Those are important points! Especially the first one, we don’t always remember that. I loved how she explained pure perception. And, of course, we have to watch out for those holes!

Hello Mary,

This is so true. It’s not easy to work with difficult emotions and naturally they are going to arise, probably intensely, in a situation like this. As you say, we might understand the idea intellectually but it’s quite another to respond naturally. There could be a danger of suppressing emotions, which doesn’t help. At least having the understand is a first step. We can only do our best within our current capacity.